Sewer is horribly backed up - can't find the main line, don't know what's wrong.?
Our toliet, since Friday of last week, has suddenly decided to go AWOL on us. Whenever we flush, the toliet bowl fills to the top, takes forever to drain, and most of the time, drains into our bathtub, which is connected to the pipe that the toliet works from. The other shower, which is also connected, is also doing it. We've looked for the main sewer pipe EVERYWHERE. Under the house, front yard, back yard.. it's completely missing. We've snaked it, cleaned it, but nothing works. We still have raw sewage and what looks like sand coming up - but we've dumped no kitty litter in our toliet. We can't imagine it's roots, since we only have one tree in the backyard and two bushes in the front. We're desperate to fix this. We can't afford a plumper right now, so that's out of the question.. we've tried everything! Hot water, a snake, Drain-o.. but the bathtub still floods, and the toliet still takes forever to drain. Any suggestions on how to find the main pipe/fix this? Whenever we flush, the toliet bowl fills to the top, takes forever to drain, and most of the time, drains into our bathtub, which is connected to the pipe that the toliet works from. The other shower, which is also connected, is also doing it. We're also having trouble finding the main 4inch sewer pipe. We've checked underground and outside, but nothing. Any suggestions on how to find the main pipe/fix this? We're hooked up onto City sewer, which I confirmed with my mum.
Public Comments
- This happened to my parents--they bought a house and were told they had city sewer. The realtor made a mistake--they had a septic system. The house, over the years, settled, taking the interior section of the main drain with it. Thus, the outside line separated somewhat from the inside line. On the day of my brother's wedding, with the reception held (where else) at my parent's house, the drain line finally decides to clog completely, filling the lines almost immediately. It was a disaster. A plumber came out--on a Sunday--and fed a camera into the line, confirming the diagnosis. The line had to be replaced from the house to the septic tank, which had also filled to capacity. That is my guess. Often, the access cover for the drain heading out to the street is in the basement, in the floor; it is 4" wide and has a square "nut" on the outside of the cap. In the yard, you may also find a 4" access hole near the street, or somewhere else in the yard--it may be covered up. My suggestion: Call a plumber, pronto. It might also be a fully occluded line due to an invasive plant like maple trees or some other deep-rooting tree.
- Below the commode, under the house you should see the drain line for the commode and tub. Hopefully there should be a clean out, (a plug that can be removed) to auger the line. Sometimes there are clean outs outside your house on the same side as your septic tank or manhole with the same setup. If you find one be carefully when you remove it as it may be full of water.
- Have the city come out and confirm the location and specific connection details of this adaption. Locations must be affirmed by real-time forensic searches utilizing real-time tools! Anything less is just a guess,guesses are less than 0 value of importance. The city could try to hide thier f'up with a fancy ,empty tech device and a trained liar/operator to bull-'s you,just to avoid thier obligations. The utility comps are becoming training grounds for the ultimate B.S. artists ever to lie directly to you. Beware these artists / immoral rapists and murderer capable reps.
- It sounds like you have a septic system instead of attachment to sewer. If that is the case, it needs to be pumped. Only a company that specializes in that type of work can do it. They basically vacuum the sewage into a huge tank. It will cost you somewhere between $150-$300 depending upon the size of your septic tank.
- get a 100foot snake go on top of your house and sick it in the vent for your toliet. that will take you to your main sewer drain. hope that might help
